Late surge not enough as Grizzlies outlast Pack

PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Jan. 9, 2013) - Dual matches in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference are never easy as ranked teams seem to come at a premium. The CSU-Pueblo wrestling team faced their second ranked team in Adams State University, losing 21-15 in a tightly contested match.

The match started off in favor of the Grizzlies as they took care of the first four matches with a series of decisions and a technical fall. Needing to score match points before the intermission, the Pack put a crucial match into the hands of Adam Carey (Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.).

Carey jumped right into the things from the opening buzzer, opening the match with a takedown and an immediate two-point nearfall. After an escape by Grizzly wrester, Mark Mabry, Carey found himself in trouble after giving up a three-point nearfall.

With Mabry securing an extra point with riding time, Carey would need to score a point in the final period to tie the match. Carey would do one better with a reversal to give himself a win and a crucial three points for the Pack.

The team looked to feed off of the newly found momentum winning two out of the next three matches.

James Harvey (Fr., Gypsum, Colo.) continued to impress in his freshman campaign winning with a 7-2 decision to give the Pack an opportunity to steal the match with a win in the last bout.

The task was tall though as the last matchup pitted freshman Adam Ortivez (La Veta, Colo.) against arguably the Grizzlies best wrestler, No. 7 ranked 141-pounder, Ryan Fillingame. Ortivez gave it his all being down 2-1 after the first period and only 4-1 after two. In the third though Fillingame turned it up a notch to win a major decision 10-1, giving the Grizzlies the match.

The Pack continue their conference dual schedule when they travel to Chadron State. The ThunderWolves face the Eagles tomorrow night with the match scheduled to start at 7 p.m.